Iran will never submit to coercion; threats, bullying to lead nowhere: President

President Masoud Pezeshkian strongly discourages the United States against continuing to resort to its overbearing methods to try to exact concessions from Iran.

The chief executive made the remarks in a phone call with Ali Faleh al‑Zaidi, Iraq's new prime minister-designate, on Tuesday.

"The Islamic Republic is ready for any form of dialogue within the framework of the international law, but based on its beliefs and convictions, it will never submit to coercion," he stated.

"If they speak to us with logic, dialogue is possible; but the language of threats and bullying will lead nowhere," the president added.

"The problem is that the United States pursues a policy of maximum pressure against our country on the one hand, while on the other hand, expects the Islamic Republic to come to the negotiating table and ultimately submit to its unilateral demands. Such an equation is impossible."

The comments came as, despite declaring and subsequently extending a ceasefire in unprovoked aggression targeting the Islamic Republic last month, the United States continues to try to impose an illegal naval blockade against the country and repeatedly threatens it with renewed attacks.

'Warmongering, US pressure a key regional issue'

Pezeshkian stressed that one of the key issues in the region today was putting an end to warmongering and American pressure against the Islamic Republic and other regional countries.

He noted how both the previous rounds of unprovoked aggression that targeted Iran, took place while the country was engaged in supposed diplomatic processes with Washington.

The president reminded that even as Washington keeps alleging an intent to negotiate with Tehran, it continues to sustain its pressure tactics and menacing rhetoric.

Pezeshkian cited the US's repeated allegations against Iran of pursuing non-civilian nuclear objectives.

He noted that, while Washington keeps alleging suspicions about Tehran's peaceful nuclear activities, it targeted the same authority in the Islamic Republic, who has unequivocally ruled out acquisition of nuclear weapons by the country through a historic religious decree. The chief executive was referring to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, who was martyred during the initial stages of the latest unprovoked aggression.

Ruling out US's excessive nuclear demands

Pezeshkian categorically rejected the US's demands that Iran totally abandon nuclear technology, asserting, "We should not deprive ourselves of these capacities," and reminding that Iran’s scientific progress in the field has been the result of years of national effort.

The president, meanwhile, voiced preparedness on the part of the Islamic Republic to reach understandings with regional Muslim countries over various existing issues, establish shared frameworks, and resolve all disputes.

Addressing al-Zaidi, Pezeshkian congratulated him for his recent designation, wishing him success in his efforts to ensure greater prosperity, stability, and development for the Arab country.

The president also emphasized the Islamic Republic’s readiness to expand comprehensive relations with Baghdad, and invited al-Zaidi to visit the country on his first official trip.

'Iraq rejects any weakening of Iran'

For his part, the Iraqi prime minister-designate said he believed that Iran’s current strength did not belong to the Islamic Republic alone, but served as support for all Muslims, including the Shia faithful.

"We will never accept that this power be taken away from Iran," he added, reminding that it was the Islamic Republic's decisive contribution that helped Baghdad uproot the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group after the latter launched its campaign of bloodshed and destruction against the Arab nation.

"Iraq needs Iran’s support, because Iran’s strength is Iraq’s strength, and Iran’s weakness would be Iraq’s weakness."

Referring to the bilateral ties, al-Zaidi vowed, "I will make every effort to elevate relations between our two countries, which are defined as two bodies with a single shared soul, to an exceptional level across economic, political, security, and regional alignment fields."

Al-Zaidi said differences between Iran and the United States could only be resolved through dialogue, noting that neither Washington is capable of overthrowing Iran's Islamic establishment, nor would confrontation serve as a sustainable solution.

He voiced Baghdad’s readiness to host negotiations between Tehran and Washington and to play a role in resolving issues and ending the cycle arising out of unlawful American aggression.

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